Ten years ago worldrenowned professors W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne broke ground by introducing blue ocean strategy a new model for discovering uncontested markets that are ripe for growth. In this bound version of their bestselling Harvard Business Review classic article they apply their concepts and tools to what is perhaps the greatest challenge of leadership closing the gulf between the potential and the realized talent and energy of employees. Research indicates that this gulf is vast According to Gallup 70 of workers are disengaged from their jobs. If companies could find a way to convert them into engaged employees the results could be transformative. The trouble is managers lack a clear understanding of what changes they could make to bring out the best in everyone. In this article Kim and Mauborgne offer a solution to that problem a systematic approach to uncovering at each level of the organization which leadership acts and activities will inspire employees to give their all and a process for getting managers throughout the company to start doing them. Blue ocean leadership works because the managers customersthat is the people managers oversee and report toare involved in identifying whats effective and what isnt. Moreover the approach doesnt require leaders to alter who they are just to undertake a different set of tasks. And that kind of change is much easier to implement and track than changes to values and mindsets.The Harvard Business Review Classics series offers you the opportunity to make seminal Harvard Business Review articles a part of your permanent management library. Each highly readable volume contains a groundbreaking idea that continues to shape best practices and inspire countless managers around the worldand will have a direct impact on you today and for years to come.